loveatfirstbite
Well-Known Forumite
There’s no easy way to tell you this, but Love at first Bite Stafford will close on Saturday 21st September 2013.
I can honestly say it’s been the most fun and rewarding job I could ever imagine... until I had a baby. Then running a cake shop became the SECOND most fun and rewarding job I could imagine. I opened this shop over 3 years ago and it’s been such a success! So successful in fact, that I regularly need to work through the night to catch up with the work load. It’s become very difficult balancing work and baby and I had to make a tough decision. I had to be back at work when she was 4 weeks old and it breaks my heart daily leaving her with my husband while I work long hours. I have a chance to break my lease at the shop and took it to spend more time with my little girl, as I'll never get these years back and she'll be a teenager before I know it!
We are honouring any orders we already have for the year, and are still taking orders up until our closing date. We will of course, maintain the highest quality of work right up until the last day and want to go out with a bang! Any concerns email tinasoden@aol.com
To anyone who says the usual negative stuff about a shop shutting; to anyone who calls me a failure... we had a hugely successful cake business. I have been the sole provider for my household for 4 years since my husband became sick. He is getting better now, and is able to work again, and that gives me a chance to see more of Lucy, which I can't pass up on. The only thing I’m afraid of failing in life is being a Mummy. It's my CHOICE to shut the shop, NOT that I had to because of finances (although I'm sure many grumpy people will say that!). Money is just not as important to me as family time. I have honoured every bill, and my staff never have, and never will miss a pay check. I love them dearly and they know it. I fully intend to open a bigger and better shop in a few years when Lucy's at school, so fear not Stafford! We’ll be back!
Any cake decorator will tell you cakes are a notoriously difficult thing to make money from and they require hours and hours of work to turn a profit. (That’s not including the hours I spend at home in the evenings doing paperwork, emails, blogging, research and designing!!) But it’s worth all that work because it’s your hobby and passion. However, once you realise you could be spending that time having cuddles with your little girl, that passion wains slightly. I can’t work through the night like I used to. I can only work 9-5 if I want to see my daughter before work and before bedtime. Before any of you ask... I don't want to pay my staff to run it for me, I’m the type of person that gives 100% to everything, I am a perfectionist, so it’s not an option for me.
I want to apologise to anyone I’m letting down by closing, and end by thanking you lovely lot... customers, facebook fans etc... even if all you’ve done is ‘like’ the odd photo on facebook... you’ve been part of a journey I wouldn’t change for the world and have enjoyed immensely. Be good
I can honestly say it’s been the most fun and rewarding job I could ever imagine... until I had a baby. Then running a cake shop became the SECOND most fun and rewarding job I could imagine. I opened this shop over 3 years ago and it’s been such a success! So successful in fact, that I regularly need to work through the night to catch up with the work load. It’s become very difficult balancing work and baby and I had to make a tough decision. I had to be back at work when she was 4 weeks old and it breaks my heart daily leaving her with my husband while I work long hours. I have a chance to break my lease at the shop and took it to spend more time with my little girl, as I'll never get these years back and she'll be a teenager before I know it!
We are honouring any orders we already have for the year, and are still taking orders up until our closing date. We will of course, maintain the highest quality of work right up until the last day and want to go out with a bang! Any concerns email tinasoden@aol.com
To anyone who says the usual negative stuff about a shop shutting; to anyone who calls me a failure... we had a hugely successful cake business. I have been the sole provider for my household for 4 years since my husband became sick. He is getting better now, and is able to work again, and that gives me a chance to see more of Lucy, which I can't pass up on. The only thing I’m afraid of failing in life is being a Mummy. It's my CHOICE to shut the shop, NOT that I had to because of finances (although I'm sure many grumpy people will say that!). Money is just not as important to me as family time. I have honoured every bill, and my staff never have, and never will miss a pay check. I love them dearly and they know it. I fully intend to open a bigger and better shop in a few years when Lucy's at school, so fear not Stafford! We’ll be back!
Any cake decorator will tell you cakes are a notoriously difficult thing to make money from and they require hours and hours of work to turn a profit. (That’s not including the hours I spend at home in the evenings doing paperwork, emails, blogging, research and designing!!) But it’s worth all that work because it’s your hobby and passion. However, once you realise you could be spending that time having cuddles with your little girl, that passion wains slightly. I can’t work through the night like I used to. I can only work 9-5 if I want to see my daughter before work and before bedtime. Before any of you ask... I don't want to pay my staff to run it for me, I’m the type of person that gives 100% to everything, I am a perfectionist, so it’s not an option for me.
I want to apologise to anyone I’m letting down by closing, and end by thanking you lovely lot... customers, facebook fans etc... even if all you’ve done is ‘like’ the odd photo on facebook... you’ve been part of a journey I wouldn’t change for the world and have enjoyed immensely. Be good
Good luck for you and your family, and a happy future together 
